Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints distributes clothes in Muhlenberg

It is the first time the church has given away excess winter thrift items in Berks.

Written by Reading Eagle

Dozens of people lined up at a winter clothes distribution event Saturday morning at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3344 Reading Crest Ave., Muhlenberg Township.

The event was a first-time initiative for local members of the Utah-based denomination, according to local project coordinator George Witmer.

"The church has thrift stores out West, and they give away the excess inventory," Witmer said. "This is the first year this has come to the greater Philadelphia area."

Local organizations, charity groups and agencies around Berks County gave out about 3,000 vouchers to families in need and about 1,100 of those people came to the distribution's opening day Friday, Witmer said. The Muhlenberg church received about 8,500 pounds of women's, men's and children's clothing, coats, winter shoes and boots Friday, according to Witmer.

"We almost ran out of clothes yesterday," Witmer said as his team waited for another shipment of another 1,000 pounds of clothing.

Once the shipment arrived, volunteers unloaded the tightly bound bundles of clothing and arranged them on hangers and tables for the recipients.

Witmer said he expected several hundred more people to receive free clothing by the end of Saturday.